Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Triumph

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Triumph particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; bronze ray floret color with a darker center of the flower creating a two-tone effect; diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm. when fully opened; spreading and prolific branching pattern, with 6 to 9 breaks after pinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings, and 6 to 8 breaks after pinch when grown in 10 cm. pots for spring flowerings; natural season flowering date of August 22 when planting rooted cuttings June 23 in Salinas, Calif., and September 28 to 29 when planting rooted cuttings June 15 in Hightstown, N.J.; flowering response of 43 to 46 days after rooting in no light/no shade programs in spring; plant height of 23 to 30 cm. when grown in fall under natural daylength with no growth regulators, and 18 to 20 cm. when grown in 10 cm. pots in spring with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP; and durable, uniform performance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Dark Triumph.

Dark Triumph, identified as 82-M22D01, is a product of a mutationinduction program. The new cultivar was discovered and selected byCornelis P. VandenBerg on July 20, 1987 in a controlled environment inSalinas, Calif., as one flowering plant within a flowering blockestablished as rooted cuttings from stock plants which had been exposedas unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1500 rads. The irradiatedparent cultivar was Triumph, a flat decorative spray pot mum and gardenmum in the bronze category, although its ray florets are yellow-orange.Triumph is disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,995.

With more specific reference to the mutation induction program resultingin the selection of Dark Triumph, three separate groups of rootedcuttings were irradiated on Jan. 8, Jan. 22 and Feb. 5, 1987 at levelsof 2000, 1750 and 1500 rads, respectively. Thereafter, 129 of the plantsirradiated at 2000 rads were planted Apr. 20, 1987; 446 plantsirradiated at 1750 rads were planted May 11, 1987; and 577 plantsirradated at 1500 rads were planted May 25, 1987. All plants wereallowed to flower, and 31 original selections were made. Of these, allwere eventually discarded except for Dark Triumph, which was selectedJul. 20, 1987, as noted, and the cultivar Yellow Triumph, selected onthe same day. Yellow Triumph was a selection from the plants irradiatedat 1750 rads. A plant patent application of applicant for Yellow Triumphis pending. Both the ray floret and flower center of Dark Triumph aresubstantially darker yellow-orange in color than the flower color ofTriumph, and completely dissimilar to the bright yellow ray floret colorof Yellow Triumph.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Dark Triumph was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection inSeptember 1987 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., bytechnicians working under the supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Dark Triumph are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Dark Triumph has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in controlled open areas in Salinas, Calif., and in Hightstown,N.J. Rooted cuttings were established in soil and maintained outdoorsunder the natural temperature and daylength prevailing during Junethrough October. Spring flowerings were conducted in Salinas, Calif.under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used incommercial greenhouse practice for small pot spring garden mumproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Dark Triumph, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Decorative capitulum type.

3. Bronze ray floret color with a darker center of the flower, creatinga two-tone effect.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 64 to 70 mm. when fully opened.

5. Branching pattern is spreading and prolific, with 6 to 9 breaks afterpinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings, and6 to 8 breaks after pinch when grown in 10 cm. pots for springflowerings.

6. Natural season flower date of August 22 when planting rooted cuttingson June 23 in Salinas, Calif., and of September 28 to 29 when plantingrooted cuttings June 15 in Hightstown, N.J.

7. Flowering response of 43 to 46 days after rooting in no light/noshade programs in spring.

8. Plant height of 23 to 30 cm. when grown in fall under naturaldaylength with no growth regulators, and of 18 to 20 cm. when grown in10 cm. pots in spring with 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

9. Durable, uniform performance.

The accompanying photographic drawing is a color photograph of DarkTriumph grown as a pinched pot mum with four cuttings in a 15 cm. pot,with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations ofthis type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Dark Triumph is the parent cultivar Triumph. All traits ofDark Triumph are similar to those of Triumph, except for the ray floretcolor. Both the color of the outer ray florets and the inner floretsnear the center of the flower of Dark Triumph are substantially darkerthan Triumph, which are yellow-orange.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. onApr. 26, 1990. In comparing live flowering material with thephotographic drawing, the colors in the photographic drawing areextremely close to the actual color of the flowers. The color of the rayflorets of Dark Triumph are composed of more than one color, and cannotbe described with one single value. The color values given are thosebelieved to be closest to the actual color of Dark Triumph. Theintensity of "overlaid with" cannot be described other than in relativeterms.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Dark Triumph.

Commercial.--Flat decorative spray pot mum and garden mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--64 to 70 mm. when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Bronze, witha darker center of the flower, creating a two-tone effect.

Color (upper surface).--Outer ray florets have a base color of 20A,overlaid with 171B. Center of flower is more strongly overlaid with171B, with the overall color of the center being closest to 168A to168B.

Color (under surface).--Base color 20A, slightly overlaid with 171B.

Color of young buds.--Closest to 171A to 173B. Shape: Flat, straight,very slightly ribbed.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14A.

Color (immature).--144C.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; very few disc floretspresent.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--23 to 30 cm. when grown in fall under natural daylength with nogrowth regulators, and 18 to 20 cm. when grown in 10 cm. pots in springwith 0 to 1 applications of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific, with 6 to 9 breaks afterpinch when grown outside under natural daylength in fall flowerings, and6 to 8 breaks after pinch when grown in 10 cm. pots for springflowerings.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Small, lobed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Dark Triumph,as described and illustrated.